Ultra-wideband communication method and device and computer readable storage medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication system, in particular to an ultra-wideband communication method and device and a computer readable storage medium, and the method comprises the steps that first equipment sends a first frame to second equipment, the first frame is used for initiating distance measurement, and the first equipment is located in a signal coverage range of the second equipment; the first equipment receives a second frame of the second equipment, wherein the second frame comprises indication information for indicating whether time synchronization is performed or not; the first equipment sends a third frame to third equipment, the third frame comprises the indication information, the indication information can be used for time synchronization of the third equipment, and the third equipment is not located in the signal coverage range of the second equipment. According to the embodiment of the invention, the expansibility of a network can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of wireless communications, and in particular, to an ultra-wideband communication method, device, and computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Ultra wideband (UWB) mesh can achieve fast networking, ranging and positioning through high-precision ranging and wide-range information transmission. In order to meet the high real-time requirements of UWB mesh networks, UWB mesh networks need to achieve fast time synchronization and ranging between devices to complete fast networking and positioning.

[0003] Usually, the coordinator device can send a beacon frame for time synchronization, and then the ranging initiator device sends a ranging control message (RCM) frame to transmit the ranging parameters, control the ranging process, and start the ranging process according to the configured ranging parameters. After completing the ranging process, the ranging initiator device can send the measurement value to the corresponding ranging responder through the measurement report (MR) frame to summarize and calculate the ranging result.

[0004] In the above-mentioned ranging scheme, time synchronization is completely dependent on the beacon frame of the coordinator device. However, if the coordinator device fails or the receiving device receiving the beacon frame is not within the signal coverage of the coordinator device, the receiving device cannot receive the beacon frame, and time synchronization cannot be achieved. Therefore, how to improve the scalability of the network is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide an ultra-wideband communication method, device, and computer-readable storage medium, which can improve the scalability of the network.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides an ultra-wideband communication method, which can be applied to a first device, or to a device in the first device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit), or a device that can be used in combination with the first device. The following description is based on the application to the first device as an example. The method may include: the first device sends a first frame to the second device, the first frame is used to initiate ranging, and the first device is located within the signal coverage of the second device; the first device receives a second frame from the second device, the second frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed; the first device sends a third frame to the third device, the third frame includes indication information, the indication information is used for the third device to perform time synchronization, and the third device is not located within the signal coverage of the second device.

[0007] Different from the current time synchronization that completely relies on the coordinator device to send beacon frames for time synchronization, in the embodiment of the present application, since the third device is not within the signal coverage range of the second device and the first device is within the signal coverage range of the second device, the first device can initiate a first frame for ranging to the second device and receive a second frame from the second device, the second frame including indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed; the first device then sends a third frame to the third device, the third frame including indication information, so that the third device can perform time synchronization according to the indication information, thereby getting rid of the dependence on beacon frames for time synchronization in the UWB mesh network, breaking through the limitations of the coordinator device signal coverage, and improving the scalability of the network.

[0008] In a possible implementation, when the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the second frame and the third frame further include calibration time.

[0009] In a possible implementation manner, the first frame, the second frame, and the third frame include a ranging frame type and / or a current ranging cycle.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the third frame also includes the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame, and the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame are used for ranging by the third device.

[0011] In the embodiment of the present application, ranging is performed through the sending time of the first frame in the third frame, the receiving time of the second frame, and the sending time of the third frame, so that time synchronization and ranging transmission can be integrated in the UWB mesh network, the ranging process can be accelerated, and the device can quickly complete the mesh networking, and the time synchronization, ranging and positioning between devices in the UWB mesh network can be efficiently realized, thereby improving the scalability of the network.

[0012] In a possible implementation manner, the second frame further includes the distance between the second device and other devices and the identification of the other devices.

[0013] In the embodiment of the present application, the measurement result can be transmitted through the second frame to achieve the transmission of the measurement result under time synchronization, so that time synchronization, ranging and / or measurement result transmission can be integrated in the UWB mesh network, thereby speeding up the ranging process, prompting the device to quickly complete the mesh networking, and efficiently realize time synchronization, ranging and positioning between devices in the UWB mesh network, thereby improving the scalability of the network.

[0014] In a possible implementation manner, the first frame, the second frame and the third frame are carried in a scrambled timestamp sequence packet (SP) 1 frame.

[0015] In a possible implementation manner, the second device is a highest priority device in the ultra-wideband network.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the method may further include: powering on the first device and searching whether there are other devices sending the first frame; after a first period of time, if no device sends the first frame, the first device starts sending the first frame to the second device.

[0017] In a possible implementation manner, the first duration can be expressed as Ranging block+Tindex*Ranginground, wherein Ranging block represents the duration of a ranging block, Tindex represents the number of the first device, and Ranging round represents the duration of a ranging cycle.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a second device, or to a device in the second device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit), or a device that can be used in combination with the second device, and is described below by taking the application to the second device as an example. The method may include: the second device receives a first frame from the first device, the first frame is used to initiate ranging, and the first device is within the signal coverage of the second device; the second device sends a second frame to the first device, and the second frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed.

[0019] Different from the current time synchronization that completely relies on the coordinator device to send beacon frames for time synchronization, in the embodiment of the present application, the first device is located within the signal coverage of the second device. Therefore, the first device can initiate a first frame for ranging to the second device and receive a second frame from the second device. The second frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed. This can get rid of the dependence on beacon frames for time synchronization in the UWB mesh network, break through the limitations of the coordinator device signal coverage, and improve the scalability of the network.

[0020] It should be understood that the executor of the second aspect can be the second device, the specific content of the second aspect corresponds to the content of the first aspect, the corresponding features of the second aspect and the beneficial effects achieved can refer to the description of the first aspect, and in order to avoid repetition, the detailed description is appropriately omitted here.

[0021] In a possible implementation manner, the method may further include: determining the calibration time according to the difference between the current receiving time of the first frame and the expected receiving time of the first frame.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the current receiving time of the first frame can be expressed as Current round = Clockcount% Ranging block, the expected receiving time of the first frame can be expressed as Expected round = Tindex*Ranging round, and the difference is expressed as Delta round = Expected round–Current round; if Deltaaround≤-Ranging block / 2, the calibration time is expressed as Correction Value = Ranging block+Deltaround; or if Delta round>-Ranging block / 2, the calibration time is expressed as Correction Value = Delta round.

[0023] In a possible implementation manner, when the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the second frame also includes the calibration time.

[0024] In a possible implementation manner, the first frame and the second frame include a ranging frame type and / or a current ranging cycle.

[0025] In a possible implementation manner, the second frame further includes a distance between the second device and other devices and an identifier of the other device.

[0026] In a possible implementation manner, the first frame or the second frame is carried in an SP1 frame.

[0027] In a possible implementation manner, the second device is a highest priority device in the ultra-wideband network.

[0028] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a third device, or to a device in the third device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit), or a device that can be used in combination with the third device, and is described below by taking the application to the third device as an example. The method may include: the third device receives a third frame from the first device, the third frame including indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed; and the third device performs time synchronization according to the indication information.

[0029] Unlike the current time synchronization that completely relies on the coordinator device to send beacon frames for time synchronization, in the embodiment of the present application, since the third device is not within the signal coverage range of the second device, the third device can receive a third frame from the first device, and the third frame includes indication information, so that the third device can perform time synchronization according to the indication information, thereby getting rid of the dependence on beacon frames for time synchronization in the UWB mesh network, breaking through the limitations of the coordinator device signal coverage, and improving the scalability of the network.

[0030] It should be understood that the executor of the third aspect can be a third device, and the specific content of the third aspect corresponds to the content of the first aspect and the second aspect. The corresponding features of the third aspect and the beneficial effects achieved can refer to the description of the first aspect and the second aspect. To avoid repetition, the detailed description is appropriately omitted here.

[0031] In a possible implementation, when the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the third frame also includes a calibration time; and performing time synchronization according to the indication information includes: the third device performing time synchronization according to the calibration time.

[0032] In a possible implementation manner, when the indication information indicates that time synchronization is not performed, performing time synchronization according to the indication information includes: the third device performing time synchronization with the first device.

[0033] In a possible implementation manner, the third frame includes a ranging frame type and / or a current ranging cycle.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the third frame also includes the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame; the method also includes: performing ranging according to the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame.

[0035] In a possible implementation manner, the third frame is carried in an SP1 frame.

[0036] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first device or a device in the first device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). The beneficial effects can be found in the description of the first aspect and will not be repeated here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the method example of the first aspect above. The function may be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software implementation by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0037] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a second device or a device in the second device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). The beneficial effects can be found in the description of the second aspect and will not be repeated here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the method example of the second aspect above. The function may be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software implementation by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0038] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a third device or a device in a third device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). The beneficial effects can be found in the description of the third aspect and will not be repeated here. The communication device has the function of implementing the behavior in the method example of the third aspect above. The function may be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software implementation by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0039] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which may include at least a processor, a memory, an input interface and an output interface, the input interface is used to receive information from other communication devices outside the communication device, and the output interface is used to output information to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor calls the computer program stored in the memory to execute the method provided by the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect, the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect, and the third aspect or any embodiment of the third aspect.

[0040] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions stored thereon. When the computer program or computer instructions are executed, the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof is executed.

[0041] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising executable instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be executed.

[0042] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, a logic circuit and an interface of the communication device, wherein the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to input and / or output code instructions, and the logic circuit is used to execute the code instructions, so as to implement the method in the above-mentioned first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The communication device may be a chip or a chip system, and the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0043] In the eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes at least one first device, at least one second device and at least one third device. When the at least one first device, at least one second device and at least one third device are running in the communication system, they are used to execute any one of the communication methods described in the first to third aspects above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which information is transmitted and diffused in a network, provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a ranging process provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of a data unit provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a PHY payload field provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of a frame control field provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 6 It is a structural diagram of a beacon frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of implementing time synchronization by a beacon frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a data frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Fig. 9 It is a structural diagram of a payload IEs field provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Fig.10 It is a structural diagram of an ARC IE field provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Fig.11 It is a structural diagram of an RMIIE field provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Fig.12 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of a coordinator device sending a beacon frame for clock synchronization provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Fig.14 is a flow chart of an ultra-wideband communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] Fig.15 It is a structural diagram of a mesh IE field provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] Fig.16 It is a scene diagram of a UWB mesh network provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] Fig.17 This is a schematic diagram of a process of T4 initiating ranging provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] Fig.18 This is a schematic diagram of a time when A0 actually receives an I frame after an expected time, provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] Fig.19 This is a schematic diagram of a time when A0 actually receives an I frame before an expected time provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] Fig. 20 It is a schematic diagram of a TOF calculation principle provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] Fig.21 This is a schematic diagram of a process in which T2 initiates ranging before T4, provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] Fig. 22 and Fig.23 It is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] The following is a description of the technical terms that may appear in the embodiments of the present application. The terms used in the implementation mode of the present application are only used to explain the specific embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application. In the various embodiments of the present application, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0067] (1) UWB mesh network

[0068] UWB technology has the characteristics of large bandwidth, high transmission rate, low transmission power consumption, and excellent anti-multipath effect, and has been widely used in various fields. Mesh network is a new type of wireless network technology. Information in the network can be continuously diffused and transmitted between nodes, thereby realizing large-scale node connection and information communication.

[0069] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which information is transmitted and diffused in a network, provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 As shown in the figure, a cross-room mesh network includes multiple devices (the example in the figure includes 9 devices from T0 to T8 in total), and the lines in the figure can represent the connection links established by each device in the Mesh network. As can be seen from the figure, the information sent by T0 can be transmitted across the room to T3 in the next room through the network link T0→T6→T7→T3 (it can also be transmitted through other links, just for example, the same below), and can also be transmitted across the room to T1 through the link T0→T6→T7→T1, that is, the message of T0 can be continuously transmitted and diffused through the Mesh network, and thus spread to all devices in the entire network.

[0070] UWB mesh network combines the advantages of UWB technology and Mesh network technology, and realizes rapid networking, ranging and positioning through high-precision ranging and wide-range information transmission. It has broad application prospects in various fields such as search and rescue, finding people and finding objects. For example, it can be used for networking and positioning of firefighter teams during rescue and fire fighting, and for positioning of personnel teams during field search and exploration. It can also be used for networking and positioning in daily life to find people and find objects. In order to meet the high real-time requirements of UWB mesh network, UWB mesh network needs to be able to achieve fast time synchronization and ranging between devices, so as to complete rapid networking and positioning.

[0071] (2) UWB mesh ranging

[0072] At present, the implementation of UWB mesh network can be: usually the coordinator device can send a beacon frame for time synchronization, and then the ranging initiator device sends a ranging control message (ranging control message, RCM) frame to transmit the ranging parameters, control the ranging process, and start the ranging process according to the configured ranging parameters. After completing the ranging process, the ranging initiator device can send the measurement value to the corresponding ranging responder through the measurement report (RM) frame to summarize and calculate the ranging result.

[0073] For example, double-sided two-way ranging (DS-TWR) is a one-to-many Figure 2 , Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a distance measurement process provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 As shown, the initiator sends beacon frames to multiple responding devices (such as responding device 1-responding device n) for time synchronization, and then sends RCM frames to transmit ranging control information, such as sending I frames, and multiple responding devices reply with R frames. The initiator then sends F frames to multiple responding devices, thereby realizing the ranging process. After completing the ranging process, the initiator can send measurement values ​​to multiple responding devices through MR frames.

[0074] Among them, Figure 3 As shown, the structure of the physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) in the ranging process can exemplarily include the following four types: SP0, SP1, SP2 and SP3. The SP0 frame may include a synchronization header (SHR) field, a physical layer header (PHR) field and a PHY payload field, the SP1 frame may include an SHR field, a scrambling timestamp sequence (STS) field, a PHR field and a PHY payload field, the SP2 frame may include an SHR field, a PHR field, a PHY payload field and an STS field, and the SP3 frame may include an SHR field and an STS field.

[0075] The difference between the four structures lies in the different positions of the STS field and whether or not the PHY payload part is included. In the above-mentioned ranging process, the beacon frame used for time synchronization, the RCM frame for configuring ranging parameters, and the MR frame for summarizing the measurement results can use the SP0 frame structure with the PHY payload field, while the I frame, R frame, and F frame in the one-to-many DS-TWR ranging process can use the SP3 frame structure without the PHY payload field.

[0076] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of a PHY payload field provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 As shown, the PHY payload field includes a frame control field, a sequence number field, a destination PAN ID field, a destination address field, a source PAN ID field, a source address field, an addressing field field, an auxiliary security header field, an information element (IE) field, a header IEs field, a payload IEs field, a frame payload field, a frame check sequence (FCS) field, a medium access control (MAC) payload field, and an MFR field. For further information, please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of a frame control field provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5As shown, the frame control field may include a frame type field, a security enabled field, a frame pending field, an acknowledgment request (AR) field, a PAN ID compression field, a reserved field, a sequence number suppression field, an IE present field, a destination addressing mode field, a frame version field, and a source addressing mode field. Among them, the frame type field in the frame control field may indicate the type of the frame, as shown in Table 1 below:

[0077] Table 1 Frame type values ​​and corresponding meanings

[0078]

[0079] As shown in Table 1, when the value of the frame type is 000, it can be indicated that the frame is a beacon frame, and when the value of the frame type is 001, it can be indicated that the frame is a data frame.

[0080] For the beacon frame, the frame structure of the beacon frame can refer to Figure 6 ,like Figure 6 As shown, the beacon frame may include a frame control field, a sequence number field, an addressing fields field, an auxiliary security header field, an IEs field, a header IEs field, a payloadIEs field, a beacon payload field, an FCS field, a MAC payload field, and an MFR field. The principle of time synchronization in beacon frames can be referred to Figure 7 ,like Figure 7 As shown, the coordinator device sends two beacon frames, and the Rx device makes a difference between the actual time interval and the expected time interval of the two received beacon frames, calculates the adjustment time for time synchronization.

[0081] For data frames, the frame structure of data frames can refer to Figure 8 ,like Figure 8 As shown, Figure 6The difference between the beacon frame and the data frame is that the beacon frame includes a beacon payload field, while the data frame includes a data payload field. Except for the data payload field, the other fields are the same as the fields in the beacon frame. For the RCM frame and the MR frame, the frame structure can be designed based on the frame structure of the data frame combined with different IEs.

[0082] The structure diagram of the payload IEs field can be referred to Fig. 9 ,like Fig. 9 As shown, the payload IEs field can be composed of multiple payload IE fields, each payload IE field is divided according to the group ID. When group ID = 0x01, it can represent MLME IE, and its content part can be composed of multiple nested IEs. Each nested IE is distinguished according to the sub-ID and carries different content.

[0083] For RCM frames, the information can be transmitted through ARC IE (sub-ID = 0x49), while for MR frames, the information can be transmitted through RMIIE (sub-ID = 0x53). The structure of the content of ARC IE and RMIIE can be referred to Fig.10 and Fig.11 .like Fig.10 As shown, the ARC IE may include a multi-node mode field, a ranging round usage field, an STS packet config field, a schedule mode field, a deferred mode field, a time structure indicator field, an RCM validity rounds field, a multiple message receipt confirmation request (MMRCR) field, a content control field, a ranging block duration field, a ranging round duration field, a ranging slot duration field, and a session ID field. Fig.11As shown, the RMIIE may include a current reply time present field, a round-trip time present field, a current TOF present field, a current AOA azimuth present field, a current AOA elevation present field, a current AOAFOM (AOA FOM present) field, an address size specifier field, a deferred mode field, an RMI list length field, and an RMI list field.

[0084] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application can be applied to sensing systems, and can also be applied to systems that comply with IEEE802.11 system standards, such as 802.11bf, 802.11a / b / g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, or their next generation, such as 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7 or EHT, or a system with a standard of the next generation, such as Wi-Fi 8, UHR, Wi-Fi AI and other 802.11 series protocols of wireless local area network systems, or wireless personal area network systems based on ultra-wideband UWB, etc., and can also be applied to wireless local area network (WLAN) scenarios. Alternatively, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to wireless local area network systems such as the Internet of Things (IoT) network or the Vehicle to X (V2X) network. Of course, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other possible communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, and future 6G communication system.

[0085] The following takes the scenario in which the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a wireless personal area network system based on ultra-wideband UWB as an example.

[0086] See also Fig.12 , Fig.12 Schematic diagram of a network architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. Fig.12 As shown, the network architecture includes 1 wireless access point AP and 2 stations. The STA associated with the AP can receive wireless frames sent by the AP and can also send wireless frames to the AP. In addition, the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to communication between APs. For example, each AP can communicate with each other through a distributed system (DS). The embodiment of the present application is also applicable to communication between STAs. It should be understood that Figure 1 The number of APs and STAs is just an example and can be more or less.

[0087] The STA involved in the embodiments of the present application is a device with wireless communication function, supports communication using the WLAN protocol, and has the ability to communicate with other stations or access points in the WLAN network. In a WLAN system, a station can be called a non-access point station (non-AP STA). For example, a STA is any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP and then communicate with a WLAN. The device can be a complete device, or a chip or processing system installed in the complete device. The device installed with these chips or processing systems can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system. For example, STA may be various user terminals, user devices, access devices, subscriber stations, subscriber units, mobile stations, user agents, user equipment or other names with wireless communication functions, wherein the user terminal may include various handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem with wireless communication functions, as well as various forms of user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), terminal, terminal equipment, portable communication devices, handsets, portable computing devices, entertainment devices, gaming devices or systems, global positioning system devices or any other suitable devices configured to communicate over a wireless medium, etc. For example, STA may be a router, a switch, a bridge, etc. Here, for the convenience of description, the above-mentioned devices are collectively referred to as stations or STAs.

[0088] The access point (e.g., AP) involved in the embodiments of the present application is a device with wireless communication function, supports communication using WLAN protocol, has the function of communicating with other devices (e.g., stations or other access points) in the WLAN network, and of course, can also have the function of communicating with other devices. In the WLAN system, the access point can be called an access point station (AP STA). The device can be a complete device, or a chip or processing system installed in the complete device, etc. The device installed with these chips or processing systems can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system. The AP in the embodiments of the present application can be a device that provides services for STA, and can support 802.11 series protocols. For example, AP can be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, a bridge, etc.; AP can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc., and of course AP can also be chips and processing systems in these various forms of devices, so as to implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0089] The AP and STA involved in the embodiments of the present application may be AP and STA applicable to the IEEE 802.11 system standard. AP is a device deployed in a wireless communication network to provide wireless communication functions for its associated STA. The AP can be used as the hub of the communication system, and is usually a network-side product that supports the MAC and PHY of the 802.11 system standard. For example, it may be a base station, a router, a gateway, a repeater, a communication server, a switch or a bridge and other communication equipment, wherein the base station may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Here, for the convenience of description, the above-mentioned devices are collectively referred to as AP. STA is usually a terminal product that supports the medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) of the 802.11 system standard, such as a mobile phone, a laptop computer, etc.

[0090] WLAN system can provide high-speed and low-latency transmission. With the continuous evolution of WLAN application scenarios, WLAN system will be applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Vehicles industry or the banking industry, corporate offices, stadiums and exhibition halls, concert halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, wards, classrooms, supermarkets, squares, streets, production workshops and warehouses, etc. Of course, the devices supporting WLAN communication (such as access points or sites) can be sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, displays, TVs, speakers, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as wearable devices such as AR and VR), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, loudspeakers, speakers, etc.), Internet of Vehicles devices in the Internet of Vehicles, infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, self-service navigation desks in supermarkets, self-service cashier devices, self-service ordering machines, etc.), and equipment in large sports and music venues, etc. There is no special limitation on the specific forms of STA and AP in the embodiments of the present application, which are merely illustrative here.

[0091] Furthermore, the applicable scenarios of the present application can be divided into the following types according to the DMG perception type, including single-station DMG SBP (DMG SBP with monostatic), dual-station DMG SBP (DMG SBP with bistatic), multi-station DMG SBP (DMG SBP with multistatic), single-station coordinated DMG SBP (DMG SBP with monostatic with coordination) and dual-station coordinated DMG SBP (DMG SBP with bistatic with coordination), etc.

[0092] In the embodiments of the present application, TX may represent a transmitting end, i.e., a device that transmits a data frame, and RX may represent a receiving end, i.e., a device that receives a data frame. The description is unified here and will not be repeated later.

[0093] In order to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the technical problems to be specifically solved by the present application are further analyzed and proposed.

[0094] according to Figure 2 As can be seen from the ranging process shown, time synchronization is completely dependent on the coordinator device sending beacon frames. However, if the coordinator device fails or the receiving device receiving the beacon frame is not within the signal coverage of the coordinator device, the receiving device cannot receive the beacon frame, and time synchronization cannot be achieved. Fig.13 , Fig.13 1 is a schematic diagram of a coordinator device sending a beacon frame for clock synchronization provided by an embodiment of the present application. Fig.13 As shown, the coordinator device is T0, which is used to send beacon frames to achieve time synchronization of devices in the network. Its coverage is the gray area, and the covered devices are T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5. The T6 and T7 devices outside the house are not covered (due to coverage distance, wall obstruction, etc.). Because the clock synchronization of other devices except T0 depends on the beacon frames transmitted by T0, when T0 fails or the beacon frame is sent and received incorrectly, the device cannot achieve time synchronization, and the robustness is poor; in addition, devices that cannot be covered by the T0 signal, such as T6 and T7, cannot be time synchronized, and the scalability is poor.

[0095] Secondly, the ranging process requires time synchronization first, then sending and receiving ranging parameters through RCM frames, and then performing the ranging process. Finally, the measurement values ​​are summarized and transmitted. The process is complicated and time-consuming.

[0096] Therefore, the technical problems to be solved by this application may include: 1. How to improve the scalability of the network; 2. How to improve the robustness of the network; 3. How to reduce the delay of ranging.

[0097] The present application proposes a communication method, which will be described below through the following embodiments. In the various embodiments of the present application, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0098] The embodiment of the present application can take the first device, the second device and the third device as the execution subject of the interactive illustration as an example to illustrate the method. The present application does not limit the execution subject of the interactive illustration. For example, the first device can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the first device to implement the method, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first device; the second device can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the second device to implement the method, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second device; the third device can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the third device to implement the method, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the third device. The embodiments of the present application are uniformly explained here and will not be repeated later.

[0099] The following describes an ultra-wideband communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Fig.14 , Fig.14 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an ultra-wideband communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. Fig.14As shown, the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0100] S1401: A first device sends a first frame to a second device, where the first frame is used to initiate ranging. Correspondingly, the second device receives the first frame from the first device.

[0101] The second device may be a coordinator device or other device that can communicate with the first device. The first device may be an initiator device of ranging. The first device is located within the signal coverage of the second device. The first frame may be carried in the SP1 frame, including the frame type of ranging and / or the current ranging cycle.

[0102] In a possible implementation, the first device can initiate ranging as the initiating device of ranging. After the first device is powered on, it can first search whether there are other devices sending the first frame. After the first time length, if no device sends the first frame, the first device can start to send the first frame to the second device. The first time length can be expressed as Ranging block+Tindex*Ranging round, where Ranging block represents the duration of a ranging block, Tindex represents the number of the first device, and Ranging round represents the duration of a ranging cycle.

[0103] S1402: The second device sends a second frame to the first device, where the second frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second frame from the second device.

[0104] After the second device receives the first frame from the first device, it can send a second frame to the second device, and the second frame can be understood as a response frame of the first frame. Optionally, the second device can perform time synchronization, and specifically determine the calibration time according to the difference between the current receiving time of the first frame and the expected receiving time of the first frame. In a possible implementation, the current receiving time of the first frame can be expressed as Current round = clock count% Ranging block, the expected receiving time of the first frame can be expressed as Expected round = Tindex*Ranging round, and the difference is expressed as Delta round = Expected round-Current round; if Delta round ≤-Ranging block / 2, the calibration time is expressed as Correction Value = Ranging block + Delta round; or if Delta round>-Ranging block / 2, the calibration time is expressed as Correction Value = Delta round.

[0105] The second frame may be carried in the SP1 frame, including the frame type of ranging and / or the current ranging cycle, and indication information. The indication information may be used to indicate whether time synchronization has been performed, which may be understood as the indication information being used to indicate whether the local device has been time synchronized by the coordinator device. If the second device has not performed time synchronization, the indication information indicates that time synchronization has not been performed. If the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the calibration time may further be included in the second frame.

[0106] The content indicated by the indication information can be determined by different values. For example, Table 2 describes the corresponding relationship between the value and meaning of the indication information.

[0107] Table 2 indicates the meaning of the values ​​corresponding to the information

[0108] The value corresponding to the indication information meaning 0x00 Time synchronized 0x01 Time not synchronized

[0109] As shown in Table 2, the value corresponding to the indication information is 0x00, which may indicate that time synchronization has been performed, and the value corresponding to the indication information is 0x01, which may indicate that time synchronization has not been performed. The calibration time may be a 16-bit symbol number in milliseconds. When the value corresponding to the indication information is 0x00, the calibration time is saved, and when the value corresponding to the indication information is 0x01, the calibration time does not exist.

[0110] S1403: The first device sends a third frame to the third device, where the third frame includes indication information. Correspondingly, the third device receives the third frame from the first device.

[0111] The third device is not within the signal coverage of the second device. After receiving the second frame from the second device, the first device may send a third frame to the third device.

[0112] The third frame may be carried in the SP1 frame, including the frame type of ranging and / or the current ranging cycle, and indication information. It can be understood that the first device may forward the indication information from the second device to the third device through the third frame. If the second device has not performed time synchronization, the indication information indicates that time synchronization has not been performed. If the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the third frame may further include calibration time.

[0113] S1404. The third device performs time synchronization according to the instruction information.

[0114] After receiving the third frame from the first device, the third device may perform time synchronization according to the indication information in the third frame.

[0115] In a possible implementation, if the indication information in the third frame indicates that time synchronization is not performed, the third device can perform time synchronization with the first device. If there is no calibration time directly or indirectly from the coordinator device in the network, the third device can use the clock of the first device as a reference and complete local time synchronization in a preset order to avoid the failure of the coordinator device or the information of the calibration time has not been transmitted and received, and the UWB mesh network cannot complete time synchronization, thereby improving the robustness of the network.

[0116] In another possible implementation, if the indication information in the third frame indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the third device may perform time synchronization according to the calibration time in the third frame.

[0117] The frame types of ranging contained in the first frame, the second frame and the third frame may include I frame, R frame and F frame, for example, the first frame is an I frame, the second frame is an R frame, and the third frame is an F frame.

[0118] Different frame types can be distinguished by different values. For example, Table 3 describes the corresponding relationship between the values ​​and meanings of the ranging frame types.

[0119] Table 3 Meaning of the values ​​corresponding to the ranging frame type

[0120] The value corresponding to the ranging frame type meaning 0x00 First Frame 0x01 Second frame 0x02 The third frame

[0121] As shown in Table 3, the value corresponding to the ranging frame type is 0x00, which can represent the first frame, the value corresponding to the ranging frame type is 0x01, which can represent the second frame, and the value corresponding to the ranging frame type is 0x02, which can represent the third frame.

[0122] The current ranging cycles contained in the first frame, the second frame and the third frame may be cyclically counted from 0 to 255.

[0123] Optionally, after receiving the second frame from the second device, the first device may perform time synchronization according to the indication information of the second frame. In one possible implementation, if the indication information in the second frame indicates that time synchronization has not been performed, the first device may perform time synchronization with the second device. In another possible implementation, if the indication information in the second frame indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the first device may perform time synchronization according to the calibration time in the second frame. For details, please refer to the description of the third device performing time synchronization according to the indication information in the third frame, which will not be repeated here.

[0124] In a possible implementation, the second device may not necessarily be designated as the coordinator device. Devices may be arranged according to a certain priority, and the clock of the highest priority device in the current network may be taken as a reference to complete time synchronization of the entire network.

[0125] Different from the current time synchronization that completely relies on the coordinator device to send beacon frames for time synchronization, in the embodiment of the present application, since the third device is not within the signal coverage range of the second device and the first device is within the signal coverage range of the second device, the first device can initiate a first frame for ranging to the second device and receive a second frame from the second device, the second frame including indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed; the first device then sends a third frame to the third device, the third frame including indication information, so that the third device can perform time synchronization according to the indication information, thereby getting rid of the dependence on beacon frames for time synchronization in the UWB mesh network, breaking through the limitations of the coordinator device signal coverage, and improving the scalability of the network.

[0126] exist Fig.14 Based on the method embodiment shown, in a possible implementation, the second frame may also include the distance between the second device and other devices and the identification of the other devices, which can be understood as the time of flight (TOF) value of the second device and other devices in the previous round of ranging and the corresponding device number.

[0127] In a possible implementation, the third frame may also include the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame, and the sending time of the third frame. After the third device receives the third frame from the first device, it may perform distance measurement based on the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame, and the sending time of the third frame in the third frame. Specifically, the third device may calculate the TOF value between the first device and the third device by the DS-TWR formula based on the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame, the sending time of the third frame, and the three timestamps stored locally (the receiving time of the first frame, the sending time of the second frame, and the receiving time of the third frame). Then, the TOF value may be multiplied by the speed of light in the air to obtain the distance between the first device and the third device.

[0128] In an embodiment of the present application, the third device can perform time synchronization according to the indication information, thereby getting rid of the dependence on the beacon frame for time synchronization in the UWB mesh network, and can also transmit the measurement result through the second frame, and perform ranging through the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame in the third frame, so that time synchronization, ranging, and measurement result transmission can be integrated in the UWB mesh network, getting rid of the dependence on the beacon frame for time synchronization, breaking through the limitations of the signal coverage of the coordinator device, realizing time synchronization between devices in a large range, speeding up the ranging process, prompting the device to quickly complete the mesh networking, and efficiently realizing time synchronization, ranging and positioning between devices in the UWB mesh network, thereby improving the scalability of the network.

[0129] Combined with the above Fig.14 The method embodiments described herein do not require the use of beacon frames for time synchronization, nor do they require the use of MR frames for measurement value transmission. Fig.15 , Fig.15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a mesh IE field provided in an embodiment of the present application. Fig.15As shown, the mesh IE field may include a ranging frame type field, a ranging round field, a correction sync field, a correction time field, a mesh ranging payload length field, and a mesh ranging payload field. It is understood that the naming of the fields in this embodiment is only for illustration and does not limit the names of the fields. The fields may also be called other names. It is understood that the number and position of the fields included in the mesh IE field are only for illustration. Adding, subtracting, or replacing the contents of the mesh IE field to achieve the same function also falls within the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

[0130] Among them, the sub-ID of the mesh IE field can be set to 0x5d in the reserved ID.

[0131] The ranging frame type field may indicate the type of ranging frame in the DS-TWR ranging process. For example, the ranging frame type may include an I frame, an R frame, and an F frame. In a possible implementation, the I frame, the R frame, and the F frame may correspond to the first frame, the second frame, and the third frame described above.

[0132] Table 4 Meaning of the values ​​corresponding to the ranging frame type

[0133] The value corresponding to the ranging frame type meaning 0x00 I 0x01 R 0x02 F

[0134] As shown in Table 4, the value corresponding to the ranging frame type is 0x00, which can represent an I frame, the value corresponding to the ranging frame type is 0x01, which can represent an R frame, and the value corresponding to the ranging frame type is 0x02, which can represent an F frame.

[0135] The ranging cycle field can indicate the current ranging cycle, which is counted from 0 to 255 cycles. The calibration synchronization field can indicate the above-mentioned indication information, that is, whether the device has been calibrated by the coordinator device to complete time synchronization. For details, please refer to the description in Table 2 above. The calibration time field can indicate the above-mentioned calibration time, which can be a 16-bit symbol number in milliseconds. Exemplarily, when the calibration synchronization field = 0x00, the calibration time field is saved, and when the calibration synchronization field = 0x01, the calibration time field does not exist. The grid ranging load length field saves the length of the grid ranging load field, and the grid ranging load field saves the load information that needs to be transmitted for each ranging frame during the ranging process.

[0136] For the first frame, it may include a ranging frame type field and a ranging period field; for the second frame and the third frame, it may include a ranging frame type field, a ranging period field, a calibration synchronization field, a calibration time field (optional), a grid ranging load length field, and a grid ranging load field, wherein, for the second frame, the grid ranging load field may store the distance between the second device and the other device and the identifier of the other device, and for the second frame, the grid ranging load field may store the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame, and the sending time of the third frame.

[0137] By using a mesh IE field and the SP1 frame format, time synchronization, ranging, and measurement result transmission are integrated, thus getting rid of the dependence on beacon frames for time synchronization, breaking through the limitations of coordinator device signal coverage, achieving time synchronization between devices in a large range, speeding up the ranging process, and prompting devices to quickly complete mesh networking, and efficiently realizing time synchronization, ranging, and positioning between devices in the UWB mesh network, thereby improving the scalability of the network.

[0138] In one embodiment, see Fig.16 , Fig.16 This is a scene diagram of a UWB mesh network provided by an embodiment of the present application. Fig.16 As shown, it is assumed that there are devices A0 / A1 / T0 / T1 / T2 / T4 / T5 / T6 / T7 / T8 (no T3), a total of 10 devices, and A0 is set as the coordinator device; in area 1, devices T0 / T4 / T5 / T6 / A0 / A1 can measure distance from each other, and the signal is reachable; in area 2, devices T2 / T6 / T7 / T8 can measure distance from each other; in area 3, devices T4 / T5 / T6 / T7 / T8 can measure distance from each other; in area 4, devices T1 / T2 / T7 / T8 can measure distance from each other.

[0139] The following is a schematic illustration using the example that the first device is T4, the first frame is an I frame, the second frame is an R frame, and the third frame is an F frame. Assuming that the T device can be used as the initiator of ranging, after the T device is powered on, it can first wait for the first time length (refer to the above description Ranging block + Tindex * Ranging round) to search whether there are other T devices sending I frames. Assuming that no T device sends an I frame before T4, when it counts to Ranging block + 4 * Ranging round, T4 starts to send I frames to the second device (A device and T device within the signal coverage range of T4). After T4 sends the I frame, the sending time of an I frame can be obtained as ITX. Fig.17As shown, ranging block can represent the duration of a block, Tindex represents the number of T devices, and ranging round represents the duration of a round. In the process of T4 initiating ranging, T1 / T2 is not within the signal coverage and will not reply R frame. At this time, coordinator device A0 can receive the I frame sent by T4. The time when A0 receives the I frame is IRX. In the R frame replied to T4, A0 sets the value of the correction sync field to 0x00 (the clock of coordinator device A0 is synchronized by default), and the correction time field in the R frame is set to the specific calibration time. At the same time, the distance measured by A0 and other devices in the previous round (such as TOF value) and the corresponding device number are placed in the mesh ranging payload field and sent to T4. The time when A0 sends the R frame is RTX.

[0140] The calibration time can be calculated as follows:

[0141] Assume that the current receiving time when A0 receives the I frame sent by T4 is Current round = clock count% Ranging block, and the expected receiving time of A0 for the I frame sent by T4 is Expected round = Tindex*Ranginground, and the difference between the two is Delta round = Expected round – Current round. For the difference Deltataround, there are the following possible implementations:

[0142] The first possible implementation is Fig.18 As shown, the time when A0 actually (current round) receives the I frame sent by T4 is after the expected (expected round) time. At this time, Delta round ≤ -Ranging block / 2, then Correction Value = Ranging block + Delta round, and the subsequent time when T4 initiates ranging is Ranging round 8 + Ranging block + Delta round = 8 + 9 - 4 = Ranging round 4.

[0143] The second possible implementation is Fig.19As shown, the time when A0 actually (current round) receives the I frame sent by T4 is before the expected (expected round) time. At this time, Delta round>-Ranging block / 2, then Correction Value=Delta round, and the subsequent time when T4 initiates ranging is Ranging round 1+Deltaround=1+3=Ranging round 4.

[0144] The above calibration time is sent to T4 through A0's R frame. The moment when T4 receives the R frame sent by A0 is RRX (T4 can receive R frames replied from multiple devices within the communication range. Here, the R frame reception moment only takes A0 as an example, and the others are similar). After T4 receives the R frame, T4 can calculate the sending moment FTX of the F frame in advance, and then attach the sending moment ITX of the I frame, the receiving moment of each R frame (including the receiving moment RRX of the R frame from A0) and the calculated sending moment FTX of the F frame to the mesh ranging payload field in the F frame and send it out. After other devices within the communication range receive the F frame, they will extract the timestamp of the mesh ranging payload field to calculate TOF. Taking A0 as an example, the same is true for other devices. A0 extracts the three timestamps ITX, RRX and FTX from the grid ranging payload field, and combines the three timestamps IRX, RTX and FRX saved locally. It calculates the TOF value between T4 and A0 through the DS-TWR formula, and then multiplies the TOF value by the speed of light in the air to get the distance between T4 and A0. The calculation principle of TOF can be as follows: Fig. 20 As shown, the formula can be shown as follows:

[0145] T round1 =R RX -I TX

[0146] T reply1 =R TX -I RX

[0147] T reply2 =F TX -R RX

[0148] T round2 =F RX -R TX

[0149]

[0150] It should be noted that when the above-mentioned T4 sends the F frame, it can also set the value of the calibration synchronization (correction sync) field to 0x00 (T4 has been synchronized by the coordinator device at this time), and set the calibration time (correction value) field to the value of the calibration time (correction value) field in the R frame replied by A0 and send it out to inform all devices within the communication range (T0 / T5 / T6 / T7 / T8).

[0151] Take T5 as an example, which can be indirectly synchronized by A0. When T5 receives the value of the correction time (correction value) field in the F frame sent by T4, T5's ranging round can be arranged as follows: T5 Correctedranging round = I rx time + Correction Value + (T5index-T4index)*Ranging round. Among them, I rx time can represent the system time when T5 receives the I frame sent by T4, Correction Value can represent the calibration time added by T4 in the F frame (relative to A0), and (T5index-T4index)*Ranging round can represent the relative sequence time of T5 delaying the sending of the I frame to initiate ranging relative to T4. T6, T7, T8 and so on, here the signal propagation time can be ignored (it is assumed to be less than 100ns), and it is only necessary to ensure time synchronization so that the ranging signals of each device do not conflict.

[0152] It should be noted that after the device completes time synchronization with A0 (coordinator device), the value of the correction sync field can be set to 0x00 in the F frame, and the correction time (correction value) can be broadcast. Otherwise, the value of the correction sync field is 0x01, and the correction time (correction value) is not broadcast.

[0153] One possible implementation is that after T4 sends an I frame, the ranging rounds of T0 / T5 / T6 / T7 / T8 will be reasonably allocated and will not conflict. However, it should be considered that during the T4 transmission process, other T devices may send I frames to initiate ranging. Assuming that T2 broadcasts an I frame before T4, the following situations may occur: Fig.21As shown, at this time, T2 broadcasts I frame, which can be received by T1 / T6 / T7 / T8. At this time, it is assumed that T4 has not yet broadcast I frame, that is, T2 is the device that first broadcasts I frame in the entire network. When T1 / T6 / T7 / T8 receives I frame, it replies R frame in turn, and then receives F frame broadcast by T2. At this time, because T2 has not been synchronized by coordinator device A0, T2's F frame will not broadcast the calibration time (correction value), but for T1 / T6 / T7 / T8, after receiving F frame and recognizing that T2 is not synchronized with A0, T1 / T6 / T7 / T8 will first synchronize local time with T2 by itself, and will not broadcast in F frame. That is to say, when there is no calibration time (correction value) directly or indirectly from the coordinator device A0 in the network, it can be synchronized with the ranging initiator device (initiator) time as much as possible. During the synchronization process, it is necessary to wait for the calibration time (correction value) from the coordinator device A0 transmitted directly or indirectly by the mesh network as much as possible. This can avoid the failure of the coordinator device or the calibration time information has not been transmitted, and the UWB mesh network cannot complete time synchronization, thereby improving the robustness of the network.

[0154] It is understandable that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the first device, the second device and the third device include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0155] Fig. 22 and Fig.23 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of possible communication devices provided by the embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the first device, the second device or the third device in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments.

[0156] like Fig. 22 As shown, the communication device 2200 includes a processing unit 2201 and a transceiver unit 2202. The communication device 2200 is used to implement the above Fig.14 The functions of the first device, the second device, or the third device in the method embodiment shown in FIG.

[0157] When the communication device 2200 is used to implement Fig.14 In the method embodiment shown, the functions of the first device are:

[0158] The transceiver unit 2202 is used to send a first frame to a second device, where the first frame is used to initiate ranging, and the first device is located within the signal coverage of the second device; receive a second frame from the second device, where the second frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed; and send a third frame to a third device, where the third frame includes indication information, where the indication information is used for the third device to perform time synchronization, and the third device is not located within the signal coverage of the second device.

[0159] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 2201 is used to search whether there is another device sending a first frame after being powered on;

[0160] The transceiver unit 2202 is configured to, after a first time period, if no device sends a first frame, cause the first device to start sending the first frame to the second device.

[0161] In a possible implementation manner, the first duration can be expressed as Ranging block+Tindex*Ranginground, wherein Ranging block represents the duration of a ranging block, Tindex represents the number of the first device, and Ranging round represents the duration of a ranging cycle.

[0162] When the communication device 2200 is used to implement Fig.14 The functions of the second device in the method embodiment shown are:

[0163] The transceiver unit 2202 is used to receive a first frame from a first device, the first frame is used to initiate ranging, and the first device is located within the signal coverage of the second device; and send a second frame to the first device, the second frame including indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed.

[0164] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 2201 is configured to determine the calibration time according to a difference between a current receiving time of the first frame and an expected receiving time of the first frame.

[0165] In one possible implementation, the current receiving time of the first frame can be expressed as Current round = clockcount% Ranging block, the expected receiving time of the first frame can be expressed as Expected round = Tindex*Ranging round, and the difference is expressed as Delta round = Expected round–Current round; if Deltaaround≤-Ranging block / 2, the calibration time is expressed as Correction Value = Ranging block+Deltaround; or if Delta round>-Ranging block / 2, the calibration time is expressed as Correction Value = Delta round.

[0166] When the communication device 2200 is used to implement Fig.14 The functions of the third device in the method embodiment shown are:

[0167] The transceiver unit 2202 is used to receive a third frame from the first device, where the third frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed;

[0168] The processing unit 2201 is configured to perform time synchronization according to the indication information.

[0169] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 2201 is configured to perform time synchronization according to the calibration time.

[0170] In a possible implementation, when the indication information indicates that time synchronization is not performed, the processing unit 2201 performs time synchronization according to the indication information, specifically for: performing time synchronization with the first device.

[0171] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 2201 is configured to perform ranging according to a sending time of the first frame, a receiving time of the second frame, and a sending time of the third frame.

[0172] When the communication device 2200 is used to implement Fig.14 In the method embodiment shown, the functions of the first device, the second device, or the third device are:

[0173] In a possible implementation, when the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the second frame and the third frame further include calibration time.

[0174] In a possible implementation manner, the first frame, the second frame, and the third frame include a ranging frame type and / or a current ranging cycle.

[0175] In a possible implementation, the third frame also includes the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame, and the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame are used for ranging by the third device.

[0176] In a possible implementation manner, the second frame further includes the distance between the second device and other devices and the identification of the other devices.

[0177] In a possible implementation manner, the first frame, the second frame and the third frame are carried in the SP1 frame.

[0178] In a possible implementation manner, the second device is a highest priority device in the ultra-wideband network.

[0179] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 2201 and the transceiver unit 2202, please refer to Fig.14 The method embodiment shown is described in detail.

[0180] like Fig.23 As shown, the communication device 2300 includes a processor 2301 and an interface circuit 2302. The processor 2301 and the interface circuit 2302 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 2302 can be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 2300 may also include a memory 2303 for storing instructions executed by the processor 2301 or storing input data required by the processor 2301 to run the instructions or storing data generated after the processor 2301 runs the instructions.

[0181] When the communication device 2300 is used to implement Fig.14 When the method is shown, the processor 2301 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned processing unit 2201, and the interface circuit 2302 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned transceiver unit 2202.

[0182] When the above communication device is a chip applied to the first device, the chip implements the function of the first device in the above method embodiment. The chip receives information sent by the second device or the third device to the first device through other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the first device; or, the chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the first device, and the information is sent by the first device to the second device or the third device.

[0183] When the above communication device is a chip applied to the second device, the chip implements the function of the second device in the above method embodiment. The chip receives information sent by the first device or the third device to the second device through other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the second device; or, the chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the second device, and the information is sent by the second device to the first device or the third device.

[0184] When the above communication device is a chip applied to a third device, the chip implements the functions of the third device in the above method embodiment. The chip receives information sent by the first device or the second device to the third device through other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the third device; or, the chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the third device, and the information is sent by the third device to the first device or the second device.

[0185] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0186] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, register, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and the storage medium can also be present in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0187] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instruction may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0188] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0189] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of the present application, the character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of the present application, the character " / " indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B and C.

[0190] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. An ultra-wideband communication method, characterized in that: include: A first device sends a first frame to a second device, where the first frame is used to initiate ranging, and the first device is within a signal coverage range of the second device; The first device receives a second frame from the second device, where the second frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed; The first device sends a third frame to a third device, where the third frame includes the indication information, where the indication information is used for the third device to perform time synchronization, and the third device is not located within the signal coverage of the second device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In a case where the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the second frame and the third frame further include calibration time.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first frame, the second frame, and the third frame include a ranging frame type and / or a current ranging cycle.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The third frame also includes the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame, and the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame are used for ranging by the third device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The second frame also includes the distance between the second device and other devices and the identifiers of the other devices.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The first frame, the second frame or the third frame is carried in a scrambled timestamp sequence data packet SP1 frame.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The second device is a highest priority device in the ultra-wideband network.

8. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The second device receives a first frame from the first device, where the first frame is used to initiate ranging, and the first device is located within the signal coverage of the second device; The second device sends a second frame to the first device, where the second frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: The calibration time is determined according to a difference between a current reception time of the first frame and an expected reception time of the first frame.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that When the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the second frame further includes the calibration time.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that: The first frame and the second frame include a ranging frame type and / or a current ranging cycle.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The second frame also includes the distance between the second device and other devices and the identifiers of the other devices.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that: The first frame or the second frame is carried in a scrambled timestamp sequence data packet SP1 frame.

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that: The second device is a highest priority device in the ultra-wideband network.

15. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The third device receives a third frame from the first device, wherein the third frame includes indication information indicating whether time synchronization has been performed; The third device performs time synchronization according to the indication information.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that In the case where the indication information indicates that time synchronization has been performed, the third frame further includes a calibration time; The performing time synchronization according to the indication information comprises: The third device performs time synchronization according to the calibration time.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that: When the indication information indicates that time synchronization is not performed, performing time synchronization according to the indication information includes: The third device performs time synchronization with the first device.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that: The third frame includes a ranging frame type and / or a current ranging cycle.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that: The third frame also includes the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame and the sending time of the third frame; the method also includes: Distance measurement is performed according to the sending time of the first frame, the receiving time of the second frame, and the sending time of the third frame.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that: The third frame is carried in the scrambled timestamp sequence data packet SP1 frame.

21. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or comprises a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, or comprises a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 15 to 20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

23. The communication device according to claim 22, characterized in that: The communication device also includes a memory.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program or an instruction. When the computer program or the instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is implemented.

25. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is implemented.

26. A chip, characterized in that: comprising a logic circuit and an interface, wherein the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; The interface is used to input and / or output code instructions, and the logic circuit is used to execute the code instructions so that the method described in any one of claims 1 to 20 is executed.

27. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises a first device, a second device and a third device, wherein the first device is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the second device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, and the third device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 15 to 20.

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